Search results for "Exercise"

Physical exercise and sarcopenia in older people: position paper of the Italian Society of Orthopaedics and Medicine (OrtoMed)

2015

Sarcopenia is the age-associated loss of skeletal muscle mass and function. It is a major clinical problem for older people and research in understanding of pathogenesis, clinical consequences, management, and socioeconomic burden of this condition is growing exponentially. The causes of sarcopenia are multifactorial, including inflammation, insulin resistance, changing endocrine function, chronic diseases, nutritional deficiencies and low levels of physical activity. Operational definition of sarcopenia combines assessment of muscle mass, muscle strength and physical performance. The diagnosis of sarcopenia should be based on having a low appendicular fat free mass in combination with low …

Electrical Stimulation of Skeletal Muscles An Alternative to Aerobic Exercise Training in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure?

2006

The aim of this study was to investigate whether electrical stimulation of skeletal muscles could represent a rehabilitation alternative for patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Thirty patients with CHF and NYHA class II-III were randomly assigned to a rehabilitation program using either electrical stimulation of skeletal muscles or bicycle training. Patients in the first group (n = 15) had 8 weeks of home-based low-frequency electrical stimulation (LFES) applied simultaneously to the quadriceps and calf muscles of both legs (1 h/day for 7 days/week); patients in the second group (n = 15) underwent 8 weeks of 40 minute aerobic exercise (3 times a week). After the 8-week period signifi…

Effects of prolonged and maintenance strength training on force production, walking, and balance in aging women and men

2012

To examine effects of 21-week twice/week strength training (ST) period followed by an additional 21-week twice or once/week ST period on force production, walking and balance in aging people. Seventy-two women (58 ± 7 years; W) and 63 (58 ± 6 years) men (M) were randomized for the first 21-week ST period: STW and STM, control (C) CW and CM. Training participants were randomized for the second 21-week ST period: once/week STWx1 and STMx1, twice/week STWx2 and STMx2. LegPress, isometric leg extension rate of force development (RFD), walking time, and balance. First 21-week ST period: leg press, RFD, balance, and walking improved significantly in STW and STM. Second 21-week ST period: leg pres…

Maximal isometric muscle strength and anthropometry in 75-year-old men and women in three Nordic localities

2007

Isometric maximal strength of hand grip, elbow flexion, knee extension, trunk extension and trunk flexion was studied in representative samples of 75-year-old residents of 3 Nordic localities: Glostrup in Denmark, Gothenburg in Sweden and Jyvaskyla in Finland. The study forms a part of a wider comparative research project analyzing the functional capacity and health of 75-year-olds in these towns. The strength measurements were carried out using standardized techniques and identical dynamometers. The results showed that the strength values of the limb muscles were significantly lower among the 75-year-olds in Jyvaskyla, both in absolute values and in relative units (N/kg body mass). For the…

Effects of exercise training on oxygen uptake in coronary heart disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

2010

It is not known to what extent exercise programs increase maximal oxygen uptake (VO(2max)) in patients with coronary heart diseases (CHD). The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of exercise interventions on VO(2max) in subjects with CHD. Database search of randomized controlled trials was conducted from PubMed. Studies were included that reported the characteristics and effects of exercise interventions in subjects with CHD, included a non-exercise control group and measured VO(2max) using direct measurement method. Eighteen studies were eligible. Exercise interventions increased VO(2max) by 2.6 +/- 1.6 and 0.3 +/- 1.4 mL/kg/min in the training and control groups, respectively…

Acute neuromuscular and hormonal responses during contrast loading: Effect of 11 weeks of contrast training

2009

The purpose of this study was to assess (1) acute neuromuscular and endocrine responses during a contrast loading protocol and (2) how these acute responses are possibly influenced by 11 weeks of contrast training. Contrast loading tests consisting of 4 sets of 80% 1 RM back squat and 4 sets of squat jump (SJ) were performed before and after training. Bilateral isometric leg extension (LE) assessed the impact of loading on isometric variables pre-, mid-, and post-loading. Potentiated SJ performance was observed in set 2 (4.6%, P<0.05), before training only. Greater indications of fatigue were observed in SJ, isometric force, and vastus lateralis (VL) activation after training (P<0.05). Trai…

2021

Background Physical activity alleviates chronic stress. The latest research suggests a relationship between resilience and physical fitness. Beneficial adaptations of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, sympathetic nervous system, endocannabinoid system, and tryptophan pathway, which are induced by an active lifestyle, are considered to be conducive to resilience. However, detailed knowledge on the molecular link between the effects of acute and chronic physical exercise and improved resilience to stress in humans is missing. Moreover, the relationship between innate and acquired aerobic capacity and resilience is poorly understood. Objective The aim of this study is to implement a hu…

Muscle performance, sex hormones and training in peri-menopausal and post-menopausal women

2003

Age-related deterioration in muscle performance is one of the major reasons for decreased functional capacity and disability in older people. In women, impaired muscle performance has already been observed during peri-menopause in concert with rapid and dramatic decrease in ovarian hormone production. This observation suggests that female sex steroids may have an important role among other agents in regulating muscle performance in middle-aged and older women. Previous experimental studies have shown that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and intensive physical training have positive effects on muscle force and explosive power in healthy post-menopausal women. Hormone replacement therapy in…

Increase in Endogenous Fibrinolysis and Platelet Activity during Exercise in Young Volunteers

1992

Physicians at the Medical Clinic at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz Germany compared data on 6 18-35 year old healthy women who took low-dose estrogen oral contraceptives (OCs) with data on 10 healthy women of same age who did not take OCs and with data on 12 18-35 year old males to examine gender differences of the coagulation system endogenous fibrinolytic activity and platelet aggregation under normal conditions and immediately after spiroergometric exercise beyond the anaerobic threshold. This type of exercise considerably boosted tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) in both men and women (1.6-5.5 IU/ml and 1.8-5.3 IU/ml respectively; p < .005). The increase was not as high in…

Strength and power changes of the human plantar flexors and knee extensors in response to resistance training in old age

2002

Aim: The aim of the present study was to assess and compare the improvements of muscle strength and power induced by a 16-week resistive programme in a population of 16 older men aged 65-81 years. Methods: Training was performed three times per week at an intensity of 80% of one repetition maximum (1RM) and consisted of both calf raise and leg press exercises. Before-, during- and after-training, maximum isometric and isokinetic torques, maximum power, 1RM, muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) and electromyographic activity (EMG) of the plantar flexors (PF) and knee extensors (KE) were examined. Results: For the KE and PF, respectively, training resulted in a 29.9 ± 4.4% (mean ± SE) and 21.6 ±…